Back to the grass and trees

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
Author: Ann Pilmer

The long drought hit gardens hard, but the tide is turning.

Landscaper Ian Barker believes it's time for hard landscaping to take second place to plants. He says Melburnians went overboard a few years ago by concentrating on hard structures and it's time we returned to "lifestyle" gardens with grass and trees.

Mr Barker believes we have learnt how to manage dry conditions with plants that will survive, and there are plenty of sustainable and drought-tolerant varieties aside from Australian natives, "although I love natives in the appropriate place",

says Mr Barker, who admits his opinion is not always popular among colleagues.

"Ten years ago low-maintenance, minimalist gardens were in and the majority of a garden was taken up with paving, retaining walls and pools. Plants were an afterthought and pushed to the boundaries," says Mr Barker.

He (Ian Barker) has landscaped this Hawthorn house.

"Then the drought kicked in and they remained that way. The theory was less plants, less maintenance, but all structures need maintenance."

"Amazingly, some landscape architects complete their course without a subject on plants — they wouldn't know 10 plants. For them, choosing plants is like choosing a paver."

He says hard elements have a place and give a landscape form. But plants are returning to restore the balance.

Mr Barker and his team experimented to find local and overseas varieties that can survive local conditions. They include crepe myrtles, bush and carpet roses and English box, which are moderately drought tolerant when established.

With his maintenance manager Fergus McAllister, Mr Barker tested 10 types of mulch and decided on Bio Mat, a dark woodchip, which they believe best balances design and the environment.

Mr Barker prefers above-ground sprayers to underground drippers. "Drippers use about 75 per cent of what above-ground sprays use. The problem with drippers is that if you have a well-drained garden and the underground electronic tap or solenoid jams, or there's a hole in a line, you won't know for about a week."

"If clients have a water tank we connect above-ground sprayers to it. Because you can see what's going on they will use less water over a period of time."

His company uses drippers to establish tough buffalo grass.

Kim and Andrew, long-term Hawthorn clients of Mr Barker, say they hardly watered their buffalo grass last summer and it stayed green. Mr Barker did their garden in stages, starting with a pool and spa down one side.

The couple bought the house behind theirs, bulldozed it to plant the grass, grow herbs in raised beds and build a studio for craft and gym. A raised patio barbecue area is outlined with a steel frame with clematis growing up on it.

Ian Barker Gardens is designing Australia's entry for the Chelsea Flower Show in London next year.

The Trailfinders Australian Garden presented by Fleming's Nurseries will celebrate Sir Joseph Banks's journey in the southern hemisphere and his botanical finds.

Design tips

Plants that survive well with minimal water in Melbourne gardens include crepe myrtles, bush and carpet roses, bay trees and dogwoods.

Plant in groups so plants will grow into each other to choke weeds.

Don't be afraid of trees. Deciduous trees will cool your house in summer and let in sun in winter.

 

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